A study showspublicly-financing sports arenas don't offer the economic benefits to theirregions which supporters often suggest. The Milwaukee Legislative ReferenceBureau released its report last Friday. It is hitting the media just asdiscussions are developing over whether Milwaukee needs to replace the BMOHarris Bradley Center. Those who push for new sports arenas often support theirideas by saying a new arena will mean jobs for the local economy, stimulatespending and bring in businesses and tourists. Sports economist AndrewZimbalist has questioned those assertions in his work.

-4/07-

A bond hearing isscheduled tomorrow for a jailer in Sauk County. The unnamed suspect wasarrested last Thursday and police are recommending he be charged with childsexual abuse. The Sheriff's Department reports he has been placed inadministrative leave. There are few details available, but the man does have ahistory of domestic violence and abuse allegations. Several women have accusedhim of assault. One woman told authorities he shook her by her hair and causedseveral bruises. Charges weren't filed by the Juneau County prosecutor due toinconsistencies n the report and a lack of additional witnesses.

-4/07-

The Legislature's JointFinance Committee brings the discussion of the state budget to public in a pairof hearings this week. The first is tomorrow night at Lambeau Field in GreenBay. The second will be held Wednesday at the Kalahari resort in WisconsinDells. The first of four hearings was held last week. Committee members aresoliciting input from the public on Governor Scott Walker's 68 billion dollarbudget proposal. After the last hearing is held April 18th, the committee willbegin the process of making changes, in needed, before the full Legislaturetakes up the two-year budget in June.

-4/07-

Two major highwayconstruction projects are impacting Milwaukee traffic, beginning this weekend.Work started last night on the exit ramp from westbound Interstate 94 ontonorthbound state Highway 100 last night. The ramp will remain closed throughthe end of the summer. The second project will have traffic on the northboundside of Highway 100 shifted to the southbound side while that stretch of road iswidened to four lanes in each direction. The work is part of a 35 milliondollar reconstruction project for the Zoo interchange.

-4/07-

A 26 year old Racine manis charged with lewd and lascivious behavior for allegedly urinating on adriveway as four children looked on. Donnell Weddle was charged with themisdemeanor in Racine County Court last Friday. If convicted, Weddle could faceup to nine months in jail. Three adult witnesses tell police they saw Weddlerelieve himself in front of four children aged four to 10 years old. Weddle haspleaded not guilty to the charges.

-4/07-

Richfield says no tofast-food restaurants in its residential neighborhoods. Those restaurants canbe built in commercial sections of the village about 25 miles northwest ofMilwaukee. The Richfield plan commission voted this week to ban construction ofany new fast-food restaurants in areas which are largely residential. Sit-downrestaurants in Richfield wouldn't be affected. The commission gave fast-foodrestaurants a definition, saying they are places where customers order food at acounter, generally pay when they get their food, and the food is served mostlyin disposable containers.

-4/07-

At least two of the eightanglers rescued yesterday afternoon didn't realize they needed to be rescued.The U.S. Coast Guard and Door County fire departments conducted the rescuemission when strong winds opened up wide gaps in the ice cover on Green Bay.Winds were gusting up to 40 miles per hour, pushing the ice apartment eventhough it was thick enough to support some pickup trucks. The operation wasconducted just offshore from an area along Snake Island Road in Nasewaupee.None of the eight fishermen needed medical attention.

-4/07-

Mount Horeb schoolofficials sent letters home with students Friday alerting parents to keep an eyeon their kids and see if they got sick. Pepperoni Pizzatas had been placed onan E. coli recall list and they had been served to students in gradesK-through-12 last week. School leaders say they have heard no reports ofillnesses which were linked to the cafeteria food. They are urging all parentsto get medical attention for their children if they show symptoms, and tocontact the Public Health Department or the school nurse for help. The Centersfor Disease Control and prevention reports 27 E. coli infections around thecountry, including two in Wisconsin.